Congress passes bill that will limit TV commercial volume

The United States Senate has passed a bill this week that will limit the volume of TV commercials, effectively putting the FCC in charge of regulating the new limits.

Dubbed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM), the bill passed the House last year and will return there for a final vote before President Obama signs it into law.

For decades, avid TV viewers have complained about the lack of volume control on commercials which can sometimes be much louder than the program you were watching.

"Every American has likely experienced the frustration of abrasively loud television commercials," adds Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. "While this may be an effective way for ads to grab attention, it also adds unnecessary stress to the daily lives of many Americans. Last night�s action in the Senate will help end this annoying practice."

Whitehouse introduced the bill in the Senate.

"It's about time we turned down the volume on loud commercials that try to startle TV watchers into paying attention. This is a simple step that will keep ads at the same decibel level as the programs they are interrupting," notes Senator Charles Schumer, a co-sponsors. "TV viewers should be able to watch their favorite programs without fear of losing their hearing when the show goes to a commercial."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Sep 2010 13:56

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50 comments

DXR88

.... it doesn't get much more pointless than this, does it?

30.9.2010 14:41 #1

Mysttic

Either way, about time

30.9.2010 14:45 #2

i1der

wow i so misunderstood from the head lines(was thinking as volume quantities)... great for tv watchers maybe that will go towards internet tv watchers as well... I turn mute almost instantly if some adds is louder than i expected, Who lose?

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30.9.2010 14:50 #3

i1der

Originally posted by DXR88: .... it doesn't get much more pointless than this, does it? i Guess not all of us really care about disturbing(loud) adds...
I haven't watch regular tv forever but i do get pissed on internet tv adds loudness

*̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡̡ *̡͌l̡

30.9.2010 14:53 #4

DXR88

Originally posted by i1der: Originally posted by DXR88: .... it doesn't get much more pointless than this, does it? i Guess not all of us really care about disturbing(loud) adds...
I haven't watch regular tv forever but i do get pissed on internet tv adds loudness but a Bill....there is something else behind this.

30.9.2010 14:59 #5

flyingpen

Ok, so I don't know if its just my room or my at&t uverse, but when I moved in to my apartment the tv shows will be quiet, but then commercials will be BLARING. Sometimes it seems like their 2x louder than the show. So for me, this is amazing. I'm so glad they are passing this.

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30.9.2010 15:40 #6

biglo30

About time!!!

30.9.2010 16:03 #7

Semperfipal

Does this his mean I can dumb my hardware that mutes incoming TV commercials? Nice law, but I'll keep my hardware and enjoy the silence!

30.9.2010 19:15 #8

baxter00

Reall? Is there nothing else more important to make into law than this?

30.9.2010 22:29 #9

lamain

Originally posted by baxter00: Reall? Is there nothing else more important to make into law than this? Lots of things but nothing they can agree on.

For me if this includes Internet TV I will be very happy to see this law.

30.9.2010 22:43 #10

wabashman

i bet FX is going to be pist over this since their commercials are always 10xs louder than the show itself.

Come talk with us on efnet at #elitemods !!! or just click ME

ALSO, DO NOT SEND ME MESSAGES ON LIVE REGARDING MODDING CONSOLES, OR HOW I PLAYED A CERTAIN GAME EARLY. I WILL NOT RESPOND. I WILL INSTEAD DELETE YOUR MESSAGE, AND BLOCK ALL COMMUNICATION FROM YOU. JUST SEND ME A PM ON HERE.

30.9.2010 22:47 #11

KillerBug

Originally posted by lamain: Originally posted by baxter00: Reall? Is there nothing else more important to make into law than this? Lots of things but nothing they can agree on. Really...to see them do anything that is not totally backwards is a huge improvement. Now, perhaps they could pass a law saying that it is illegal to knowingly put lies into commercials.

30.9.2010 23:47 #12

Hopium

my grandpa will be pleased

1.10.2010 00:03 #13

klassic

I believe the initial rule was that commercial volume could be as loud as the loudest part of the show. IE a large explosion, screaming, etc. I heard about this a while ago and I believe the new bill will limit volume to the average volume of the show.

I wanna devise a virus and bring dire straights to your environments. Crush your corporations with a mild touch, trash the whole computer systems and revert you to papyrus - Deltron 3030

1.10.2010 02:16 #14

iamgq

a bill for commercials? wow

True thug Afterdawn memeber since 05! Shout out to all those old school member still in the ranks of Newbie! Represent!

1.10.2010 05:37 #15

KSib

Huh... Well, whatever. Worse bills have been passed, I'm sure.

1.10.2010 05:51 #16

Tristan_2

A lot of stations do this even during an actual show and or movie or anime depending the channel, theirs times CN(yes I watch it cuz nothing is really on other stations) where even if the commercial is at the same volume on most shows theirs time the show is sooooooooooo low you have to turn it up. Its about time something is being done about this.

1.10.2010 08:00 #17

Ben79

Now they just need to remove commercials completely and make decent content for people to watch. Until then cable providers can shove it.

I DON'T WANT TO PAY THEM TO WATCH COMMERCIALS!

1.10.2010 10:45 #18

dssacer

Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by lamain: Originally posted by baxter00: Reall? Is there nothing else more important to make into law than this? Lots of things but nothing they can agree on. Really...to see them do anything that is not totally backwards is a huge improvement. Now, perhaps they could pass a law saying that it is illegal to knowingly put lies into commercials. that would be the day . thats the # 1 goal in commercials lie to us any way they can

1.10.2010 11:21 #19

core2kid

I've never had a problem with loud commercials and there's always a mute button people can use during commercials.

1.10.2010 13:01 #20

Ryoohki

Originally posted by core2kid: I've never had a problem with loud commercials and there's always a mute button people can use during commercials. That's true enough unless its late or you are off of work and tired and happen to be dozing off. Having a blaring commercial come on when the tv is really watching you can be very annoying and it jolts you awake. Some people like to sleep with the tv on and turned down to have some background noise you know.

1.10.2010 13:46 #21

Pop_Smith

Originally posted by KillerBug: Really...to see them do anything that is not totally backwards is a huge improvement. Now, perhaps they could pass a law saying that it is illegal to knowingly put lies into commercials. A blatant, flat-out lie is called false advertising and is already illegal.

However, most companies get around this by "stretching the truth" were they are, technically, lying but not to the point of "false advertising".

1.10.2010 14:27 #22

DXR88

EXTENZE!!!! can make your woohooo larger.

1.10.2010 15:03 #23

Notcow

I say it's about time...I never imagined there would be a law against this, but it is annoying, and something that should be outlawed.

2.10.2010 11:19 #24

Clownzill

Originally posted by DXR88: Originally posted by i1der: Originally posted by DXR88: .... it doesn't get much more pointless than this, does it? i Guess not all of us really care about disturbing(loud) adds...
I haven't watch regular tv forever but i do get pissed on internet tv adds loudness but a Bill....there is something else behind this. I'm surprised that there is only one post stating this. A bill that outlaws this can easily be used to justify NEW bills that outlaw other "annoyances". This bill has nothing to do with loud ads but has everything to do with giving the government more control over media. Government does not go for the throat right away but use these "minor bills" to work it's way to greater, more significant bills that control the media. Be worried about the government passing bills like this.

2.10.2010 12:37 #25

DVDBack23

Originally posted by Clownzill: Originally posted by DXR88:
but a Bill....there is something else behind this. I'm surprised that there is only one post stating this. A bill that outlaws this can easily be used to justify NEW bills that outlaw other "annoyances". This bill has nothing to do with loud ads but has everything to do with giving the government more control over media. Government does not go for the throat right away but use these "minor bills" to work it's way to greater, more significant bills that control the media. Be worried about the government passing bills like this. I swear some people are never happy..the President could drive to your house right now, give you $1 billion dollars and you'd still complain. Not everything is a conspiracy. There are no addendums in this bill giving the gov't special privileges. They are just stopping loud commercials.

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2.10.2010 12:53 #26

Clownzill

Originally posted by DVDBack23: Originally posted by Clownzill: Originally posted by DXR88:
but a Bill....there is something else behind this. I'm surprised that there is only one post stating this. A bill that outlaws this can easily be used to justify NEW bills that outlaw other "annoyances". This bill has nothing to do with loud ads but has everything to do with giving the government more control over media. Government does not go for the throat right away but use these "minor bills" to work it's way to greater, more significant bills that control the media. Be worried about the government passing bills like this. I swear some people are never happy..the President could drive to your house right now, give you $1 billion dollars and you'd still complain. Not everything is a conspiracy. There are no addendums in this bill giving the gov't special privileges. They are just stopping loud commercials. It doesn't NEED an addendum. There is no conspiracy theory because this bill in fact allows the government to control volume of over-the-air communications (even if it's just commercials). From here they can justify passing bills to control the volume of your TV from the factory, charge a tax for the amount of volume a person wants, give volume permits to some stations and not others, etc. This is how government control starts, small "innocent" bills with "specific" purposes lead to larger encompassing more serious bills over time. This bill gives the government power that they did NOT have yesterday, even though it's a small amount of power it's STILL more power. I don't like loud commercials either but the government has no place in regulating how loud my TV, radio, PC, etc is in the privacy of my own home. There is not conspiracy in that and in time this volume control can EASILY be turned to "adjust" volume on the consumer end of the spectrum.

2.10.2010 13:18 #27

DXR88

2.10.2010 15:35 #28

xaznboitx

this is the stupidest law I ever heard of... I'm sure people mute or change the tv station during commercials...

for TV viewers that are complaining, Stop watching regular channels and upgrade to cable or satellite or change the channels during commercials....

2.10.2010 20:27 #29

slickwill

For the longest time I thought something was wrong with my television set, causing the volume to coincidentally increase when the TV program went into commercial.

I'm kidding.....this is one of the reasons I hate and have stopped watching television. The mains reason for stopping is the socially designed brainwashing that is embedded in all commercials, TV shows, and news that are meant to suit the government/corporate agenda. For example, swaying us into accepting wars, buying crap we don't need, etc.

Once you understand the psychological manipulation and the techniques used, you can pick it out like bird dookie on a black shoe.

2.10.2010 22:11 #30

cleverick

I guess congress past a law on something that my remote can do.

2.10.2010 23:28 #31

catfreak

Just another example of the frivolous waste of taxpayer's money Congress really is . . .

Get a real job you jerk-offs

its what you learn after you know it all that really matters

3.10.2010 11:24 #32

kapkirk

"but a Bill....there is something else behind this."

Sure there is. The Government was the one that 'deregulated' the rules related to broadcast volume about 20 years ago.

Yet another example of how the government got involved in something, screwed it up with legislation, then has to go back to pass more legislation to undo their screw up.

November can't get here fast enough.

3.10.2010 15:40 #33

IzzyM

Finally, some relief from these annoying commercials, atta boy congress! Well at least they (Congress) are doing something. Now if they only would......................!

3.10.2010 16:48 #34

juventini

What about a bill to help unemployed citizens or struggling home owners. Congress is pathetic!

3.10.2010 22:51 #35

juventini

Originally posted by catfreak: Just another example of the frivolous waste of taxpayer's money Congress really is . . .

Get a real job you jerk-offs amen.

Forza Juve!!

3.10.2010 22:51 #36

DVD_Dude

Hard to believe people are complaining about Congress passing a bill that will have a positive affect that you can actually notice in your daily life. And it costs $0 billion.

My question is, when does it go into effect?

3.10.2010 23:08 #37

Morreale

The American government at work.

4.10.2010 00:26 #38

Jemborg

Originally posted by Semperfipal: Does this his mean I can dumb my hardware that mutes incoming TV commercials? Nice law, but I'll keep my hardware and enjoy the silence! Do you have a link for that sort of hardware?

Originally posted by klassic: I believe the initial rule was that commercial volume could be as loud as the loudest part of the show. IE a large explosion, screaming, etc. I heard about this a while ago and I believe the new bill will limit volume to the average volume of the show. That is correct, as ads are not technically louder than the show but have been compressed so that every quiet sound is also loud. It's called cheating.

Originally posted by kapkirk: "but a Bill....there is something else behind this."

Sure there is. The Government was the one that 'deregulated' the rules related to broadcast volume about 20 years ago.

Yet another example of how the government got involved in something, screwed it up with legislation, then has to go back to pass more legislation to undo their screw up. That's all cock-eyed. If it was working before they should not have succumbed to lobby group pressure and deregulated. Same as with the banks, finance sector and Wall Street.

You should not be be concerned that the Gov will pass regulations, only with what those regulations are... and look very carefully at what gets deregulated (because that rarely, if ever, works).

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

4.10.2010 04:27 #39

STANLY5

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE CAPS-LOCK LAW TO COME

4.10.2010 20:42 #40

ParadoxEquation (unverified)

I want to know what ever happened to the "Smart Sound" feature in televisions. It automatically turned down the volume when commercials came on... and it actually worked.

It was only around for a couple of years (from what I can tell). Then you didn't see it anymore. It was even advertised on television as a ground breaking technology.

5.10.2010 01:32 #41

DRDangler

It's a damn shame that it takes an act of Congress for advertisers to use a logical and tolerable volume... But thank God something has been done about this common annoyance.

10.10.2010 14:23 #42

DRDangler

Originally posted by Clownzill: Originally posted by DXR88: Originally posted by i1der: Originally posted by DXR88: .... it doesn't get much more pointless than this, does it? i Guess not all of us really care about disturbing(loud) adds...
I haven't watch regular tv forever but i do get pissed on internet tv adds loudness but a Bill....there is something else behind this. I'm surprised that there is only one post stating this. A bill that outlaws this can easily be used to justify NEW bills that outlaw other "annoyances". This bill has nothing to do with loud ads but has everything to do with giving the government more control over media. Government does not go for the throat right away but use these "minor bills" to work it's way to greater, more significant bills that control the media. Be worried about the government passing bills like this. Yeah, that's what it is!.. A conspiracy! Total BS.
If the majority these advertisers would have used consistent and tolerable volume levels this bill would have never been.

10.10.2010 14:45 #43

catfreak

Considering how we are murdering poor Afghans, Iraqis and God knows who else . . Congress needs to address real issues instead of contrived BS like this ...

Our politicians are ignorant a-wads . . .

its what you learn after you know it all that really matters

10.10.2010 16:18 #44

DXR88

Originally posted by catfreak: Considering how we are murdering poor Afghans, Iraqis and God knows who else . . Congress needs to address real issues instead of contrived BS like this ...

Our politicians are ignorant a-wads . . . they deserve every last bit of what there getting. you don't want to fight don't pick up a gun. you want to save your people from the twisted lies and suppression turn the gun to the man that gave it to you.

10.10.2010 19:37 #45

pmshah

Originally posted by catfreak: Considering how we are murdering poor Afghans, Iraqis and God knows who else . . Congress needs to address real issues instead of contrived BS like this ...

Our politicians are ignorant a-wads . . . You got it all wrong. CIA wants to control the drug trade out of Afghanistan and the oil lobby wants control all the oil in Iraq.

BTW Some 15 years ago Philips introduced technology in their TVs, here in India, that sensed commercials and automatically cut down the volume. May be US needs this more than we do!

10.10.2010 23:19 #46

Jemborg

Originally posted by DXR88: Originally posted by catfreak: Considering how we are murdering poor Afghans, Iraqis and God knows who else . . Congress needs to address real issues instead of contrived BS like this ...

Our politicians are ignorant a-wads . . . they deserve every last bit of what there getting. you don't want to fight don't pick up a gun. you want to save your people from the twisted lies and suppression turn the gun to the man that gave it to you. That's rather simplistic DXR.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

11.10.2010 03:43 #47

DXR88

Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by DXR88: Originally posted by catfreak: Considering how we are murdering poor Afghans, Iraqis and God knows who else . . Congress needs to address real issues instead of contrived BS like this ...

Our politicians are ignorant a-wads . . . they deserve every last bit of what there getting. you don't want to fight don't pick up a gun. you want to save your people from the twisted lies and suppression turn the gun to the man that gave it to you. That's rather simplistic DXR.

so is smashing 747's into buildings, killing over 2000 people.

i stand by my comment, if the incompetent want to blow themselves up in the name of a god, by all means let them.
if they want the killing of there people to end, they only need too look from within.

they've been murdering and raping there own people long before we got there.

11.10.2010 12:17 #48

Jemborg

Originally posted by DXR88: Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by DXR88: Originally posted by catfreak: Considering how we are murdering poor Afghans, Iraqis and God knows who else . . Congress needs to address real issues instead of contrived BS like this ...

Our politicians are ignorant a-wads . . . they deserve every last bit of what there getting. you don't want to fight don't pick up a gun. you want to save your people from the twisted lies and suppression turn the gun to the man that gave it to you. That's rather simplistic DXR.

so is smashing 747's into buildings, killing over 2000 people.

i stand by my comment, if the incompetent want to blow themselves up in the name of a god, by all means let them.
if they want the killing of there people to end, they only need too look from within.

they've been murdering and raping there own people long before we got there. I understand mate but the war in Iraq is all about the oil. All those civilian women and children that died there as a consequence of it did not deserve it, far far more than 2000.... and the use of "depleted" uranium in weapons should be banned like mustard gas. It is despicable.

US and British usurping of the democratic government of Iran and installing the Shar of did not do anything to help the situation in the Middle East. Neither did supporting Saddam as the US did in the Early days. It does not all of it "come from within". And it goes far deeper than that.

Yes, I agree many are f**ked up (and I am an atheist myself) but no country is perfect or deserves blanket condemnation. You can stand by your comments all you like... they are still cruel and surprisingly naive.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

11.10.2010 17:31 #49

unlistedonline (unverified)

Originally posted by Morreale: The American government at work. edited by ddp the government, it shows how edited by ddp up it is when they cant or will not pass a budget, the President goes of edited by ddp around while he should be getting the budget fixed. Where is the "change" he spoke of. I hope N. Korea nuckes the White House and soon!!!!!!!!!!!

10.4.2013 21:33 #50

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